interpretivism

• They focus on the meanings and experiences of the individual when accounting for research and dont view individuals as numbers, but as people who interact constantly with others
• Qualitative data - data that is rich in detail and cannot be measured.
• Rapport - researchers build a relationship with their participants in order to understand their behaviour because they are opening up and have the confidence to engage
• Subjectivity - Research cannot establish social facts. The study of human society is beyond empirical evidence to include subjective views, emotions, values, opinions
• Verstehen - empathetic understanding. This is needed to understand human behaviour. It allows the researcher to get inside the head of the participant to understand the world from their point of view.
• reflexivity - act of the researcher is constantly reflecting on the extent to which they themselves are impacting on their research. The researcher then has to acknowledge their own bias and values.
• Researcher imposition - The researcher decides what is or isn't important, and the researcher imposes their own views. This opens up bias.
• They believe humans are shaped by nurture
• They use methods such as participant observation, ethnography, open ended questions, unstructured interviews
• They believe humans are unpredictable and have free will